Have I stumbled upon something here?

[brad hays]

I've got a good friend who is a very busy cabinet maker supplying cabinets for our local large state-affiliated hospital and associated offices. His wait time is about 1.5 years. Recently, I've found a local maker's space for $35/ a month with a 4x8 CNC router and unlimited use. I'd be stupid if I didn't see this as a money-making opportunity, right?

So what CNC router / cabinet designing software should I get acquainted with in order to start making cabinets for my buddy?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I'd suggest PMing a Moderator and have this thread transferred to the CNC forum.

[Rick Potter]

Bet you a nickel that maker place has a clause in their contract about commercial use.

[Kevin Jenness]

There are a plethora of software options available. They all require a substantial investment in training, and some licenses can cost tens of thousands of dollars upfront. Mozaik is pretty popular with a relatively affordable monthly subscription. ECabinets is a free program with a network of Thermwood equipped shops that will do contract work. Vectric's VCarve Pro is a very capable program and relatively easy to learn but if you want to get into cabinet production you will want something more specialized.

I can't imagine a makerspace is going to be a production facility dedicated to your commercial cabinet projects. I suggest you use it to learn the basics of cnc and meanwhile get acquainted with job shops that will translate your drawings into pallets of flatpacked parts for you to assemble. I don't know how much experience you have in commercial casework but it is a challenging venue for a number of reasons. Good luck.

[Jim Becker]

Bet you a nickel that maker place has a clause in their contract about commercial use.

This was exactly what I was going to post as soon as I saw the question...

Relative to the software question, you can use any CAD/CAM you want "sorta"...but it has to have a post-processor that's compatible with the machine and control software that's in the makerspace. You'd be best served using the same CAD/CAM software they make available but that might not be the best for "cabinet parts". Shops that produce a lot of cabinets use software that's optimized for that task and it's generally subscription based. They also use machines that have tool changers and often auto-loading of material. Etc. I'm saying all this to keep things realistic as you consider things. The learning curve is steep; and just because there's a 4x8 machine available (to multiple people...) doesn't mean it's the best machine for producing cabinet parts including the "permissibility" thing already mentioned.

[Michael Burnside]

My buddy uses CabinetPartsPro but as others have said, I'm sure the maker space does not allow for heavy commercial use. Obviously V-Carve Pro would be a useful tool to learn as well. It's fairly simple.

[brad hays]

I should have looked for a CNC router forum before posting here. Oh well.

I've read every document I had to sign to become a member and read all the rules and regulations, and there is no mention of doing commercial work in the space. They have a philosophy of having as few rules as possible and that all situations are dealt with based on mutual respect. They have a ton of equipment and would never be able to exist without outside sponsorship, charging its 50 members only $35/mo. Their policy is to allow all the members to vote on any issues that come up. I'm prepared to offer to pay for anything on the CNC that wears out while I'm using it, and hopefully, that just might be good enough to get me through however many sheets it's going to take to get my own CNC.

[Jim Becker]

I should have looked for a CNC router forum before posting here. Oh well.

The folks replying to you here about software are largely experienced CNC users including myself. I actually bought mine in 2018 primarily for business use and I help manage a brand-specific CNC forum, too. The folks in that forum who do cabinets are mostly using Cabinet Parts Pro or Mosaic for that work.

[Steven O Smith]

I've read every document I had to sign to become a member and read all the rules and regulations, and there is no mention of doing commercial work in the space.


If the space isn't intended for commercial use, there will likely be a rule soon after you get going.

[Curt Harms]

I've read every document I had to sign to become a member and read all the rules and regulations, and there is no mention of doing commercial work in the space.


If the space isn't intended for commercial use, there will likely be a rule soon after you get going.

Likely. But Brad could use their equipment to learn the business and have a better idea whether this is something he wants to put major $$$$ into.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I considered this option before buying a CNC. Exact same- maker space with CNC with no clause about commercial work. The issue was that I wasn’t the only one with the idea, so there were multiple people wanting to use the CNC and you had to reserve time well in advance. Also, humping materials back and forth made things a bit more complicated than having a CNC in my own shop.

That said, it’s a great way to get started and learn CNC. I recommend doing it for just ONE project and get the feel for it. One thing to note: For most cabinet parts software, you need a vacuum table because the program does not allow you to include tabs. There are ways around that, but currently that’s where I am- got a CNC, and love it, but I now have to add a vacuum table to do what I want to do with it.

[stephen thomas]

They have a ton of equipment and would never be able to exist without outside sponsorship,

charging its 50 members only $35/mo. Their policy is to allow all the members to vote on any issues that come up. I'm prepared to offer to pay for anything on the CNC that wears out while I'm using it, and hopefully, that just might be good enough to get me through however many sheets it's going to take to get my own CNC.

Isn't there an hourly rate? To cover electric, maintenance, and amortization? Plus consumables? Do you have to bring your own consumable tooling?
I've set up a couple non-profits with capital equipment (in one case, some outside sponsorship) and the only way to keep it going is to have the board periodically review costs, especially hourly to amortize the machinery and pay for maintenance. (Ignoring baseline insurance, training/safety, fire equipment, and whatever the space costs etc which is probably what the dues are projected to cover.)

It would still be a sweetheart deal, except for those pesky importunate other users with the same idea & intended schedules.

In NY state, there is a mandate for libraries to have maker spaces.
As you can imagine, the level varies with the local librarian's interests, comprehension, and initiatives. Most machines around here are a little above homeowner grade - so not cabinet making potential.
However you can do quite a bit of useful and interesting stuff with just your library card. They do charge hourly, and for consumables. By the lb, cost according to material for the 3D printers, e.g. The tooling for the small cnc mills is sort of built into the hourly for those machines, etc.

[brad hays]

Big thanks Jim and sorry it's taken so long to get back here. That's the best software recommendation I've gotten so far. What's the CNC forum you moderate?

Also, is that Mosaic software spelled Mozaik?

Yes Curt and thanks. That's the general plan.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice Malcolm. From what I've gathered so far there isn't too much demand for the CNC. The place has darn few members and exists in a large part due to corporate sponsorship. The smallish town it's located in is very well known for being an artsy community so there's a lot of motivation there to enable the common person, ala me, to get into creating. On the vacuum table...maybe I could include that in my offer to the maker's space. You're one of the few other Malcolms I've run into other than my uncle. Great name btw.

stephen, no hourly rate. Just your monthly dues of $35. Although you do have to provide consumables on certain machines. For the cnc it's just the router bit.

[Ronald Blue]

Just curious what the CNC router is? Some are more capable than others of doing production work. Other words some are light weight in construction and some are built like tanks. Keep us posted on how the process goes. Sounds like about all the other pitfalls have been covered. It could be a great deal for you even if it's only a learning experience to get familiar with CNC woodworking.